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Shotgun Log Cabin Park Model Tiny House (396 Sq. Ft.) by Dave Taylor


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This is a 396 sq. ft. shotgun log cabin tiny house by Dave Taylor. Enjoy!

As longtime fans of the New Orleans style “Shot Gun House” we chose it as our inspiration. There is considerable information on the internet about the meaning and origin of the term “Shot Gun House.” We choose this definition:  “A house that has rooms and doors aligned such that one could fire a gun (shot gun) through the front door and out the back without hitting anything.”

How and why was this design developed? First we wanted an all on frame design. This allows for ease of mobility, both original and relocation. As it developed into a 11 Foot by 36 foot living quarters plus a six-foot covered porch. For us a porch was a must. It is a great place to sit out of the sun, dry in a rain, and can be protected from bugs if screened (as ours is.)

A Porch or loft is not currently counted in the ANSI 400 square footage limit for a park model. This cabin meets or exceeds, ANSI 119.5 standards. Ours is in a very nice Campground. Think about it, almost all neighborhoods decline. If this happens to us, we will simply move the cabin. The gentleman that installed our gas connection finds himself stuck in his home as the area has declined to the point his house has little value. This would also apply when a landlord raises the ground rent out of sight. Our log cabin is at the top of the TINY HOUSE class, at 396 square feet. Unless you want the extreme mobility allowable with a max width of 8.5 feet, the extra 2.5 feet of width makes for a more comfortable home. While larger square footage will cost a little more, the interior fixtures will be much the same as a smaller plan.

THE PLAN

The Great Room is 18 feet X 11 feet with an almost even split between kitchen / dining area and living room. The “living room has 9 feet of pantry style storage, with a 40-inch TV atop and a very comfortable sofa bed across with side tables. Vaulted ceiling and a gable end window add a spacious feeling. By not having a loft, we were able to have vaulted ceilings in all 4 rooms for maximum spaciousness.

The kitchen / dining area includes a full-sized gas range, apartment size dishwasher, 18-foot refrigerator, microwave, table and chairs. Cabinet wise we have both below and above counter storage, and a microwave shelf. The bath / powder room area has a tub / shower, stacked washer, and a large powder room. By closing the pocket doors at each end of the space you have privacy for showering. The powder has its’ own pocket door for privacy. The powder room and the shower area, each has its’ own exhaust fan and LED lightning in the vaulted ceiling. With the use of 3 pocket doors nets us 4 individual rooms.

On to the bed room. Here we find 9 feet of wardrobe with 6 lower drawers on the left. Queen bed to the right flanked by 3 drawer night stands and upper cabinets. This space requires an emergency exit. Many people would choose a large egress window. We chose a working door to complete the Shot Gun effect.

A word of caution, if building a Log Cabin, all electrical wiring and plumbing MUST be accurately designed. Making changes after a wall is up will do one of two things: make for ugly external wiring/plumbing or be hugely expensive. Our heating is a mini-split heat pump by Mitsubishi. No duct work to accumulate dust and or mildew. It is efficient!

Hot water is provided by a gas Rinnai tankless unit, with a remote digital controller mounted next to the kitchen sink. This works well for us, we set the daily use at 115 degrees for showers and 140 degrees for the dish water. This is done to eliminate the need to continually adjust water temperature. Caution: don’t forget to check the setting before stepping into the shower!! You may want to try the system at 110 deg. first. If your location has lower water flow (pressure) this will help insure better flow through the water heater. Low flow will cause the heater to fail to supply good continuous water temperature.

If you are not insistent on having a Log Cabin, as we were. Hardie board siding (board & batten) would be our other choice. Our roof is metal (recommended) skirting gives a nice finish look (covering wheels and axels) Two other items often over looked: a deep kitchen sink and comfort height toilet. These two items are well worth the up-charge.

I worked with BnB Design of Murrell’s Inlet, SC. and Green River Log Cabins of Campobello, SC. Plans Available.

I am the author of “LIVE RICH ON A SMALL INCOME” We have lived Tiny since 2003. Then only 320 sq. ft.

At age 75 we embarked on this project. Now complete, we have lived in the cabin more than 8 month while retaining our 5th wheel in Arizona for deep winter escape!

Our big thanks to Dave Taylor for sharing!

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 12 comments… add one }
  • Dyane
    December 21, 2017, 1:47 pm

    I love the set up and the size. Where is this located and is it a year round dwelling?

    • Dave
      December 29, 2017, 4:55 pm

      In answer to the 7 questions:
      Yes, you can live year round. We have it in SC. As said in the write up ,it was built by Green River. B n B design ([email protected]) have the plans and we designed it.
      We planned for all the storage in the great room and bed room. We have all seasons clothes in wardrobes not just 2 weeks worth. Yes, we have 2 air/ heat ductless units. Great on efficiency. The logs are an insulation factor floors and ceiling rated R19.
      We have the tank less hot water heater as mentioned. And, that freed up the tank location at the corner of the kitchen counter “L ” at the sink. So..not to waste space there is room for a linen close in the powder room with 2 shelves and finished all the way to the kitchen counters. I use tubs to bring things out. Also pictured was the cupboard over the washer dryer. The washer dryer space is large enough for full size we just took ours from the Rv. Total cost we have in the build is $57,900. Can be done cheaper with studs and siding. Or, with different options. ALL drawers are full length to back. No halves.
      As for the logs, they will darken with age as do all woods. Our honey oak Rv wood has darkened over 14 years and our Nonsuch sail boat teak has darkened over 30 years.
      Now, you can have interior wood stained. We chose not to stain just color in accessories.

  • Mary
    December 21, 2017, 2:13 pm

    I love it!

  • Vivian Smith
    December 21, 2017, 3:02 pm

    This is probably one of the best designs I’ve seen, but I’ve always been fond of the shotgun home. Enormous storage so you could have 2 weeks worth of clothing (as opposed to 1), and space for food and dishes. Practical and easily adjusted, aesthetic-wise.

  • Chuck
    December 21, 2017, 5:48 pm

    I love this house! However I don’t care for the log-cabin inside so would want to go with something else. Seems as though they have min-splits at both ends of the house…that’s smart!!! At night you can heat or cool only the bedroom and then during the day use the one in the living room.
    The kitchen is perfect and I love the fact there is room for a washer/dryer.
    And a small dishwasher too!

  • Tom Osterdock
    December 21, 2017, 7:18 pm

    Not as mobil as the 8.5s but very nice and would be great if I had the land I want. I prefer the THOWs though since they are more easily mobil.

  • Terressa
    December 22, 2017, 1:08 am

    I LOVE IT!!!

  • Pam
    December 22, 2017, 9:22 am

    I absolutely love this unit. What is the little door in the bathroom by the toilet for? Wasn’t explained in review. Which Green River plans were used and what was your total cost for this unit? I believe this is exactly what I’ve been looking for.

  • james cornell
    June 6, 2018, 12:10 pm

    were do I order this home from please e mail this information I am ready to buy do they deliver and set up? and how much $

  • Karen Blackburn
    December 8, 2018, 1:09 am

    Havd always thought the shotgun style made sense after reading about it in a book. It is being used here in Ireland now for ground floor apartments in townhouses, enter into living space and one of the bedrooms has the opposing door in it.
    This is well thought out for year round living, for me I would have a wood/peat stove both for cooking and heating, would lose the TV and put in book shelves, hate dishwashers (have had them but prefer to wash as I go) and the drier, again prefer air dried clothing/linen. The extra width is necessary, currently living in 12′ wide and this would be my ideal again in the future. My plans (dreams for the future) mean 12′ allows for a tiny bedroom and bathroom at one end with the rear door between them in line with the main door at the other end. Great design and plenty of storage, plus a proper table and chairs for eating. Very well thought out and designed.

  • Dave Taylor
    May 16, 2019, 7:38 pm

    In ans. To Pam, our design, called shotgun log cabin, or Taylor shotgun. The only one we designed and gave to them to build. They have permission to build for others. Some folks come in with their own designs or modify a Green river design. Cost depends on what is done. We had extras and custom stuff, but look about $63,000.

  • Abby Taylor
    February 8, 2023, 1:59 pm

    Update: Green River Log Cabins is no longer doing custom builds. The built another factory along side and are doing what I am calling mass produce, 10 or some same designs.
    We moved the cabin just Jan 2023 to a different county and on private owned land.
    We have not done any thing extra, all is still the same, we are extremely pleased we had it built when we did and had custome for that we wanted. Price to build today, custome, was quoted at 99,000 then extra for all the cabinetry we put in. Including the 2 extra closets added in powder room for linens and over the dryer for bedding for select comfort lazy boy sofa with air mattress, as we also have one on our queen bed . All original appliances working, dryer is a whirlpool 2004, washer whirlpool front load 2014.
    The 4″ x 11″ logs are extremely efficient. When in AZ for 4 winter months, heat set on 55 deg, our monthly bill in SC was 10.00 to 18.00 .
    Summer when in New England and Maine, set at 85 deg 55.00 60.00.very pleased with Mitsubishi!!!
    And the Rinnai with thermostate control.
    We did add a coat of stain, same as factory only we painted on not spray so cabin appears darker.

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